Simone Pepe Should Not Be Anywhere Near Cesare Prandelli’s Italy Squad
The majority of Azzurri followers remain puzzled by his decision to include the winger for the recent friendlies against Poland and Uruguay in attack in place of the likes of Serie A’s top marksman Antonio Di Natale, especially when you consider that Pepe himself is not an out and out striker.
However, he did come for the second half in both the win over Poland and the defeat to Uruguay which does indicate the that former Fiorentina boss is a fan of the Juventus attacker.
Despite the fact that while he will offer his team 100% effort in every game that he plays, is that really enough to merit a place in the national set-up?
He may give more for the cause than most of his teammates but the fact is that if the squad were to be picked on effort alone then many players would stake a claim that fans would unlikely to be too pleased to see in the side.
German Denis is on fire at the moment in front of goal and Novara’s Marco Rigoni has been outstanding for the new boys this season but there wouldn’t be many Azzurri fans who would be overjoyed at having them wearing the famous blue jersey because, despite the effort they have shown for their respective sides this season, they are just that level below the international game.
The fact is that Pepe isn’t good enough to be in the squad and, especially when the going gets tough for Italy, he is often found wanting and offers little in creativity going forward to help his team out of a hole.
Last summer at the World Cup he was extremely poor and when it came to the crunch tie against Slovakia, was very lucky to remain on the pitch as he struggled to help the team in attack and defence with other attackers such as Di Natale and Fabio Quagliarella showing that they are perhaps worthier of starting games with their well taken, but ultimately ill-fated, goals.
As well as his poor displays on the pitch, his comments on returning from South Africa alone should have been enough to merit the player never being allowed to represent the peninsula again.
Giorgio Forattini’s now infamous drawings of 11 blue coffins on a football field which appeared in Il Giornale to signal the death of the Italian game were not depicted in the best taste but the players should have known the nation was hurting and not bit back at the criticism.
However, Pepe’s ensuing comments that “I hope they soon get to build a coffin for him (Forattini) instead – not blue, but brown” was taking it a step too far and this lack of respect from an international footballer is not the kind of thing that should be said.
With Antonio Di Natale still vying for a place in the squad and Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi set to return from their respective lay-offs before next summer’s championships, it would be a pity if one of these talents was refused a place in the squad for Simone Pepe.
Follow Padraig Whelan on Twitter: @PWhelan88 and be sure to check out www.padraigwhelan.wordpress.com
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